D Ring Harness

[njfarmer]

I have a question for the D Ring harness users out there. I am looking at all the different types of harness available. I am not terribly far from Peach Lane Harness. I was thinking of going with a D Ring harness. It will be for my Belgian mare that will be used single as a team just is not in the budget right now. I was wondering if the D Ring harness has any benefits when used single. It seems the main feature of the D Ring is that is takes tongue weight off the collar. Well as you already know there is no tongue when going single. It seems that with shafts the weight is already on the saddle of the harness no matter what type of harness. So just wondering if the D Ring is worth it?

[chrisf.]

The D-ring helps to keep your traces pulling square on your collar regardless of how high your whippletree is off the ground.
Chris F.

[Brandon Shaffer]

Down the road there could come the time for the 2nd horse 🙂 . Then the D Ring would be handy because there will a be a tongue there, not just shafts.

[njfarmer]

Brandon- That is very true. One day I hope to have a tongue in between two horses.

[Anonymous]

A few minor points that I’ve noticed while using my D-ring:

1) I’ve found it to be easier and quicker to put on my Brabants than the Western I have for my Percherons
2) There’s only the bellyband hanging underneath the horse getting slobbered up (sweat, mud, etc. – Les Barden’s observation, actually)
3) Chris’s earlier point about the angle of draft being constant no matter what you’re hitched to
4) It stays put on the horses better – the Britchen doesn’t wander about since it’s adjusted snug

If I were buying new I’d put up the extra money for the D-ring harness, and that’s what I just did – got it a week ago today.

[Jim Ostergard]

I have used the D-ring on my two singles in the woods for the last 6 years and really liked it. I have had both leather and nylon. Prefer the nylon just for ease of getting on a tall guy. I know where there is a leather D-ring in good shape for around $300 if you are interested. Private email me if you are interested.
Jim

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